By Joseph Ostrander
A new Hulu Original programming feature, 11.22.63, debuted recently, and I was curious to view it. The storyline is based on the novel with the same title by famous author Stephen King. The premise is an intriguing science fiction “what if?” time travel journey back to the day that former President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas November 22, 1963. During the first episode, there are a few flashback conversations between the 2 primary characters that fill in the philosophical “butterfly effect” backstory about the time traveling possibilities of saving President Kennedy from being shot.
Why do I refer to this well-crafted 8-part thriller? It has to do with the aging diner owner, Al Templeton, that waxes eloquent about John Kennedy’s potential as a savior-like political figure that could have set America upon a nobler, and militarily restrained path where the travesty of the Vietnam War could have been avoided. Templeton, a Vietnam veteran, deems this one possibility to save the lives of fellow servicemen the driving force behind convincing James Franco’s character to enter the “rabbit-hole” closet in Templeton’s diner and attempt to change the course of history.
And the real time connection I want to make is what you may ask?
Well now fellow American citizens who are spectators of the ongoing Presidential election campaigns being held this year, what can we identify with Al Templeton’s passionate, but simplistic and idealistic perspectives of how one man’s charisma would be sufficient to set aright one or more perceived “wrongs” that plague our nation? Templeton viewed Kennedy as a man of sound reason and sufficient political influence to protect America from wandering down the wrong paths of whatever it is you may also feel America is headed toward (fill in the blank _________)...
Kennedy, a flawed man that harbored a darker and less visible secret life while projecting a vibrant public one, represents all that is wrong with the celebrity status of American politicians and the savior-like hopes voters put in such men and women today. And the conflicts it raises for sincere Christian believers trying to vote their consciences with the diverse choices being offered can cause major headaches of political proportions…
{sigh}
How do I sort through the myriad of seemingly contradictive political platforms and promises made by candidates of every red-white-and blue stripe? Simple. I merely choose the votes that will cancel out the choices I know my ex-spouse would make…
And that fellow Coastlander’s of every political viewpoint and level of civic passion is how this somewhat jaded saint fills out his mail-in ballot when the political rhetoric hits the proverbial campaign fever fan in this polyglot, pluralistic nation known formally as these United States of America…
Think about it…
Amen.
P.S. and don't forget to vote!